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Bonus Point Magnets In Defence

This season the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) altered the Bonus Point System (BPS) that is used to allocate bonus points in the game. As well as BPS points for scoring, assisting and defensive duties, a greater prevalence was placed on crossing ability. The consensus was this would benefit full-backs. With six weeks’ data now available, this article aims to see whether that is true and which players are this season’s bonus magnets so far.

BPS Allocation

First a quick recap on some of the key attributes defenders need to gain BPS:

  •     12 BPS for a goal
  •     9  BPS for an assist
  •     12 BPS for keeping a clean sheet
  •     1 BPS for each open play cross, every three clearances, blocks or interceptions (CBI), every three recovers, each key pass, each successful tackle and each successful dribble.
  •     3 BPS creating a big chance where the receiving player should score.
  •     9 BPS 90% pass completion
  •     6 BPS 80 to 89% pass completion
  •     3 BPS 70 to 79% pass completion
  •    -3 BPS  for conceding a penalty
  •    -3 BPS for making an error that leads to a goal
  •    -1 conceding a foul
  •    -1 shot off target.

From this it is clear that goals are important but not essential for defenders in terms of bonus points. Midfielders get 18 BPS for a goal and forwards get 24 BPS. Defenders do also get 12 BPS for keeping a clean sheet, which means they have to score and keep a clean sheet to get the same allocation as a forward who scores one goal.

Other attributes are clearly needed to get bonus so pass completion, crossing, creating chances and doing well in terms of CBI are important factors in our search for a backline bonus point magnet.

The Data

Top 12 defenders – Bonus PointsTop 12 defenders – BPS allocation
Leighton BainesBranislav Ivanovic
Branislav IvanovicCesar Azpilicueta
Jose FonteAshley Williams
Ryan ShawcrossLeighton Baines
Eric DierRyan Betrand
Michael DuffNathaniel Clyne
Cesar AzpilicuetaJose Fonte
Phil JagielkaCraig Dawson
Nathaniel ClyneEric Dier
Eric PietersJason Shackell
Ashley WilliamsPhil Jagielka
Daryl JanmaatNeil Taylor

The table above shows clearly that full-backs are benefiting this year and those points from crossing and dribbling are playing their part. In each top 12, seven are full-backs. In terms of BPS Ashley Williams is the only centre-back representation in the top five.

But this only tells part of the story. In comparison with midfielders and forwards, defenders are still under-represented. Baines is the only defender to feature in the top ten overall for bonus points. Defenders do better in terms of BPS, though, suggesting more will join him. Ivanovic, Azpilicueta and Baines are in the overall BPS top ten, in addition to Ashley Williams. Once again, Ashley Williams is the only centre-back represented, providing further evidence that full-backs reign supreme.

Key Players

For this section I’ll take a look in detail at Baines, Ivanovic, Williams and Azpilicueta to assess why they are performing well in terms of both bonus and BPS. It is this key group of bonus magnets I’m interested in as their high rank in terms of BPS indicates they will be more consistent in terms of gaining bonus points. It also shows they are already successful in converting their high BPS into actual bonus points.

Ashley Williams (Swansea)

Clean sheets play their part for Williams in terms of BPS, with Swansea having three so far. He also does well in terms of CBI, sitting in second place overall for defenders this season. With an overall pass completion rate of 89.5% it is clear this is another key factor in his bonus allocation. But poor crossing and dribbling stats show that for centre-backs like Williams to gain bonus points they will need to excel in terms of passing, CBI and clean sheets.

Leighton Baines (Everton)

Baines is making up for not gaining 12 BPS for a clean sheet with crosses – Everton have only one clean sheet so far. He has registered 23 crosses this term, fifth best for defenders. Passing has also helped as he has a 85.2% pass completion rate. In terms of chances created he is top among defenders, another notable feather in his cap. Baines’ success in terms of BPS and converting this into bonus points is clearly due to his excellent distribution. He has also scored once, adding another 12 BPS to his tally. For full-backs like Baines to secure bonus they must excel in attack.

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

Goals and clean sheets are Ivanovic’s key weapon and success in BPS. His two goals and two clean sheets total 48 BPS and have enabled him to rival Diego Costa’s BPS tally and secure bonus points. A pass completion of 82.8% also helps, as does his distribution – he sits second behind Baines in terms of chance creation for defenders. Attacking threat and strong clean sheet potential over the season make him another notable bonus magnet for 2014/15.

Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

The Chelsea left-back’s inclusion surprised me as he is no match for Baines or Ivanovic in terms of attacking display. Two clean sheets helps but is not enough on its own. So why is Azpilicueta performing so well in terms of BPS and bonus allocation? The answer appears to lie in his all-round display. He is quite simply a jack of all trades and master of none, picking up BPS across the board. A pass completion rate of 85.4% helps. This is good but still behind Terry and Cahill, who are missing out on bonus this season. In terms of chances created he is half as effective as Ivanovic, which is once again good compared to other defenders, but not startling. He is also third among Chelsea defenders, behind Terry and Ivanovic, in terms of tackling success. With just six crosses as well he is occasionally offering threat, perhaps just enough to impress the BPS, while going unnoticed by most Fantasy managers. In second spot in terms of BPS among defenders, he is perhaps the most intriguing of our bonus point magnets and one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

What is undeniable is that full-backs are benefiting this year from the change in BPS allocation. But for them to succeed they need to excel in passing and distribution. Centre-backs face an uphill struggle to match their full-back colleagues and they rely heavily on clean sheets. They also have to excel at CBI and passing to make up for their lack of attacking threat. It is clear that full-backs are also a better investment as arguably they can rack up attacking threat and distribution BPS whatever the opposition, whereas centre-backs like Williams rely on a kind run of fixtures to gain clean sheets. When more attacking sides present themselves, Williams and other centre-backs will suffer far more in terms of bonus points than full-backs.

Azpilicueta is the one to monitor here. Playing for Chelsea, there are sure to be clean sheets over the season, but it is his overall good – but not startling – stats that make him the most impressive among our quartet of bonus point magnets. He shows that an all-round defender with occasional attacking threat can flourish under the change to the BPS, offering hope to Mr Averages everywhere.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

68 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Be great if any other members of the community wanted to write about bonus. There are plenty more areas to look at, such as midfielders v forwards. Also how are goalkeepers doing this year. Hope it spurs some of our scribes to look at the issue of bonus points further.

    1. Jimmy_The_Gent
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Excellent analysis. BPS is always a consideration in my defensive selections.

      1. J0E
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        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers.

        Me too, that's why I was looking at it. Wanted to firmly establish what we all thought - that full backs do better. But also wanted to look at some of the reasons why. Azpilicueta is a very interesting one. He is not excelling in any area- but is quite good at everything. If we can find more like him that'll really give the community a march on our rivals. Defenders like him are very much under the radar bonus magnets.

        1. Jimmy_The_Gent
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          100% agreed. Azpilicueta was actually still on for 2 BPS even without the assist against Villa. Definitely flying under the radar and for me represents much better value than Ivanovic. I had Azpilicueta last season and he was a solid returner of points but always left me a little frustrated due to lack of bonus points. Looks like a different case this season with the new bonus point system.

          Again, great article Jonty - thanks.

    2. Your Mum Zohore
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Great read, thanks for this!

  2. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Great article. Very informative, looks like it's sort of the opposite of last year then.

    Needs a little tweaking here and there though..who edited this? 😉

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Ha, not me. Have to hand that lucky job of knocking my work into shape to others. 🙂

  3. Cowboy John
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Very interesting - thanks. 🙂

    Looking at your sample, I'm not so sure that full-backs are necessarily favoured by the new BPS allocation, rather the playing field has been levelled compared to last year.

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      It looks like centrebacks have to work much harder this year and the fuller range of skills good full backs have have been taken into account. It certainly looks like centrebacks had an easier ride last season.

  4. Sess!
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Good article mate, cheers. I was going to bring azpil in for a couple of weeks before baines on WC last week, but annoyingly decided against it as didn't want to plan a future transfer. Shows he could be good alternative to the more expensive ivan once chelsea start stringing the CSs together.

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Shows that Terry and Cahill are going to struggle to keep up in terms of bonus.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        How do you explain Ashley Williams?

        1. J0E
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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          • 14 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Its written above. 😉

          Great CBI, clean sheets and good passing. He's so good in all these areas so far that it is allowing him to keep pace with the full backs and their crossing etc.

          But as said in the article if clean sheets dry up CBs like Williams will find it even more difficult.

          1. J0E
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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            • 14 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            CBs need that perfect storm of CBI, clean sheets and passing. Take one away and they will drop like a stone in terms of BPS.

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              Hmmm. OK. I am rejigging my table.

              I wish that we could have secondary ordering ...

              1. J0E
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                • 14 Years
                9 years, 5 months ago

                Williams is an interesting one. One way a table could be useful would be to rank those with good CBI and passing. When it looks like they have a kind run of fixtures and more chance of a clean sheet then draft in their CBs. Williams is good at the moment because the fixtures are kind. They stiffen soon, which makes him one to ditch.

                1. J0E
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                  • 14 Years
                  9 years, 5 months ago

                  southampton, everton, lei and stoke have the best chance on paper of clean sheets over the coming weeks.

                  Be interesting to see how their CBs do over that period in terms of bonus. Could provide some interesting further data on when and which CBs to get in.

                  1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    9 years, 5 months ago

                    Fonte!

                    1. J0E
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                      • 14 Years
                      9 years, 5 months ago

                      exactly. Fonte could be gold if clean sheets continue.

                2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  9 years, 5 months ago

                  Actually, Swansea's fixtures ease, for a considerable period.

                  1. J0E
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                    • 14 Years
                    9 years, 5 months ago

                    gwks 10-12 Everton, Arsenal, Man City. That doesn't look like a good run for clean sheets.

                    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      9 years, 5 months ago

                      See just after.

            2. Rhinos
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              interesting to see if he can hold his place down with luis waiting in the wings

  5. noMoreInternationalBreaks
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Remove moreno and falcao for chambers and aguero?

    Need both to afford it but have 2FT

  6. Rhinos
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Superb article
    Really lends an interesting dynamic this season because paying extra for ivan baines a definite tactic

  7. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Jonty? What is a dribble, in the table jargon? A carry-on?

    1. J0E
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I think its a take-on.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Right. Sorry - that is what I meant.

  8. MIDDLEMAN
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Got 2 FT and nowt in the bank...fairly happy with my team but seems a shame to waste the transfers - any suggestions? Will happily reciprocate..

    Guzan (Hamer)

    Ivan Bert Taylor - swansea (Duff Schlupp)

    AdM Fab Sterling Siggy (Boyd)

    Costa Aguero Naismith

  9. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    think it's hard to conclude much from those top 12s. for example take the full backs who are up there:
    baines 2 goals, ivanovic 2 goals & an assist, dier 2 goals, azpi an assist, clyne a goal and an assist, bertrand a goal and an assist, pieters an assist, naylor an assist, janmaat a goal. every single one has attacking points.
    meanwhile there are centre backs up there with no attacking points like williams, duff, fonte & shackell (phil jones was doing brilliantly pre-injury too). those 4 all have one thing in common too, they play for teams with the most clean sheets so far this season.
    the crossing and dribbling stats really are miniscule helps as i'm fairly sure only accurate crosses count. only 3 full backs on that list average more than 1 dribble per match (1.5, 1.2 and 1.3, dier, baines, ivanovic) and those 3 all average less than 1 cross per match (seriously on baines).

    think we're still in the same place as last season. full backs on paper should be more likely to get attacking returns, however in any clean sheet where they don't centre backs are the main men. with some interesting exceptions (at least so far) scattered around such as azpi which i find very interesting and vergini has come onto my radar the last couple of weeks (albeit i'm looking to offload my sunderland defender after this gw).

    a player i'd put forward now martinez has showed distin is droppable is john stones. i think he'll be a real bap botherer if you trust everton's defence once their good run starts next gw. in every clean sheet i'd back him. like always though you'd want clean sheets where baines and coleman don't score/assist to get all 3.

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Exactly my point. Well done, AB.

    2. J0E
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      The key for me is overall bps.. Which shows how defenders compete with Mids and Fwds. Williams is the only CB so far to compete, compared to three full backs.

      I really hope someone does some further research into Mids and Fwds as well though. Be great to see whether wingers are benefitting.

      I'll also try and revisit this over the 12 week mark to see if the above conclusions still hold weight.

      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        that's it really. not that you should ever seperate defenders but if you can find full backs who you fancy to get attaking points then obviously go for it. if however you're in one of those situations where you have 3 or 4 targets lined up and dont really fancy any of them attacking wise (or you think they are all the same attacking threat) then i think you still have to side with the centre back. while it lasted i found man utd's back 3 very interesting as it seemed to make the wider 2 players machines, they were taking the best of both worlds bps wise. they tackled like full backs and CBI'd like centre backs. phil jones was racking up some obscene scores

    3. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Attacking points and CS points should be removed and their baseline BPS scores compared.

      1. The Machine
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Yup. Full backs being better options due to to their attacking potential is another thing altogether

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah, they could be a terrible option to get baps without attacking returns, but if they get them they sweep the baps

      2. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Bingo. Exactly the kind of further research that would be good to see. If you fancied doing an article on that I'd love to see that.

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Shouldn't be too hard to compile. Maybe tomorrow.

  10. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    chambers i think could be an azpi too. i think relatively dull full backs really suit the system, they play simple passes, tackle well and a lot. (vergini is the same)

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Yep, Azpi is the interesting one. Chambers fits his profile of being good at most things well.

    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I highlighted Azpi as the biggest beneficiary of the new bonus point system in my article a couple of months ago, so it's no surprise to me that he's right up there.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        I have found the reason for Azpilicueta. He is the tackle champion!

      2. Damo.
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Well I was talking about Azpi all Prem season so I should get the credit

      3. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        i really think chelsea bought the best lb in europe last season so i think it's fair enough that no one really has azpi

    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      hey doos. i'd personally recommend throwing in a dispossessed column alongside take-ons as it's +1 for a successful dribble and -1 for being dispossessed and they sort of go hand in hand. the bigger the ratio in a positive sense the better.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Right! Cheers, AB! 🙂

          1. applebonkers
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            you need to buy a new left back! 😉

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              You can say that again. Blimey. A few surprises there!!!

              1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 5 months ago

                Ivanovic - all six foot twelve of him - champion dribbler? Who'd'a thunk, eh???

                1. Billy Gilmore
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 5 months ago

                  That's because he's always playing the unmarked 2nd striker role 😉

                  1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    9 years, 5 months ago

                    Whatever - it is clearly working! 😀

  11. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Anyway, thank you, Jonty! This will get my vote for October!!! 😀

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      🙂

  12. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Great work Jonty, many thanks.

    I noticed how well Azpilicueta was doing in the BPS yesterday. He looks to me the best bet in the Chelsea defence, unless you go for Ivanovic's attacking potential.

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2014/09/30/the-digest-gameweek-6-3/?hc_page=3#hc_comment_8437103

    On the subject of Ashley Williams, it's worth noting that Federico Fernandez has actually outscored him in the BPS in his first two starts in the side. He also seems to have that ability on the ball that is necessary for centre backs to excel, so it's worth monitoring how they compare going forwards.

    However, whilst full backs have certainly received a big boost this year, I still think that centre backs in general perform better in the BPS. Ivanovic, Baines, Bertrand and Clyne are all doing well, in large part, because of their attacking returns.

    I think the key thing to look for in a bonus magnet is how busy they are. Azpilicueta is an outlier because of the incredible amount of defensive work he gets through, similar to Joel Ward at full back last season, beating centre backs out due to his impressive tackling statistics. Baines does well because he sees so much of the ball, which also likely benefits Clyne and Bertrand.

    However, centre backs get through more work in general, and so have higher CBI scores. This can be seen by looking at where the bonus points went in the 0-0 draws that we've had so far this season - in the absence of full backs picking up any goals or assists, centre backs have dominated:

    Villa 0-0 Newcastle: 3 Bonus Points to Coloccini (CB), 2 to Janmaat (FB), 1 to Dummett (FB)
    Southampton 0-0 West Brom: 3 Bonus Points to Fonte (CB), 2 to Yoshida (CB) and Wisdom (FB)
    Burnley 0-0 Man United: 3 Bonus Points to Jones (CB), 2 to Evans (CB), Blackett (CB) and Duff (CB)
    Palace 0-0 Burnley: 3 Bonus Points to Speroni (GK), 2 to Duff (CB), 1 to Delaney (CB)
    Burnley 0-0 Sunderland: 3 Bonus Points to Brown (CB), 2 to Shackell (CB), Trippier (FB) and Mannone (GK)
    Sunderland 0-0 Swansea: 3 Bonus Points to Vergini (CB), 2 to O'Shea (CB), 1 to Fernandez (CB)

    The only 0-0 in which a Centre Back hasn't picked up maximum bonus came in a match where Speroni saved a penalty. Mannone is the only other keeper to pick up bonus in a 0-0, after he made 6 saves at Turfmoor.

    Of the 43 Bonus Points awarded in these 6 goalless games, here's the distribution:

    Centre Backs - 31 Bonus Points
    Full Backs - 7 Bonus Points
    Goalkeepers - 5 Bonus Points

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Apologies for the slightly rubbish formatting. Also, I see that AB has already made the same point on full backs beating centre backs in large part due to their attacking points, whilst I was faffing around looking things up...

      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        yours reads better tbf. purely for flagging up azpi i'm a fan of the article as i really just thought one-off game when he got 2bps the first time then an assist getting him 2bps the other time. even when you take off his assist, terry's og and yellow and cahill's yellow he's still a step ahead. the mystery of cesar!

    2. Dino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Great stuff ludo and ab, looks like it is as you were from last year then except we don't seem to have had as many low scoring games with cs to see cbs getting bonus.

      Full backs are clearly not better for bonus unless they get attacking returns which are notoriously difficult to predict for defenders. I had ivanovich last year for almost every gw up to the jan wc when I sold him for a 0.5 loss and I don't think he had one attacking contribution made to that point. He then went on to get goals and assists after jm tightened up the defence but they have gone back to last seasons pre xmas style now so I don't understand where these attacking contributions are coming from.

      In short back good cbs who are likely to get cs over punting on fbs and hoping for attacking returns to help get bonus points.

  13. And nothing else Mata'…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Who to bench this GW:

    Moses - SUN(A)
    Downing - QPR(H)
    Alexis Sanchez -CHE(A)

    thanx

  14. OShaughnessy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I think that the sample size it just a bit too small to say that the center backs are going to be left out in the cold here BPS wise...

    First, consider that historically 15 to 20% more clean sheets are kept in the second half of the season* as team's have *tighten up* or *have gelled at the back*.

    Now, remember that central defenders get the lion's share of their bonus points in low-scoring games in which they manage to keep a clean sheet..

    As a result, I think we've got a ways to go before declaring the end of the central defender...

    All that said, I completely agree that the full back's skill set is being much better represented under this new BPS system & they undoubtedly shouldn't be overlooked as they have been in years past.

    *Source: http://www.shotsontarget.co.uk/2013/01/analysis-of-clean-sheets-though-season.html

    1. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      As an aside about the number of clean sheets increasing over the season, Chris Glover found that the effect was more pronounced for 'big teams'. Not really pertinent to this discussion but worth bearing in mind.

      1. OShaughnessy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        God he's good...
        So, I just checked & he's back writing again which is nice for everyone.

        1. roscola
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Certainly is. Love that guy

      2. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Yep this is true. Top teams like Chelsea really tighten up. While weaker ones flounder. Lots of reasons I assume, squad depth, health resources etc.

        The key is always invest in more expensive defenders post xmas...I can't see that changing. Will mean of course that players like Williams will find it even harder to get bonus, while those like Azpi and Ivanovic will find it easier as they are already excelling in other areas.

        1. roscola
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
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          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Absolutely. If I hadn't followed that last season, my performance would have been tragic as opposed to the merely woeful 🙂

  15. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    People forget about bonus points for defenders who don't attack so often. People normally go for defenders who can score and assist, given these score more points, but there is a lot to be said about players getting a bap every week!

  16. MithunShenoy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Should I pick Dier ahead of Chambers ? Need help !